US10676014B2 - Lighting and/or signaling system for motor vehicles - Google Patents

Lighting and/or signaling system for motor vehicles Download PDF

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Publication number
US10676014B2
US10676014B2 US15/551,396 US201615551396A US10676014B2 US 10676014 B2 US10676014 B2 US 10676014B2 US 201615551396 A US201615551396 A US 201615551396A US 10676014 B2 US10676014 B2 US 10676014B2
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Prior art keywords
waveguide
lens
input surface
output
rotation
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Expired - Fee Related
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US15/551,396
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US20180065536A1 (en
Inventor
Christophe Valois
Beny GRIGORESCU
Dirkie Sacchet
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Valeo Vision Belgique SA
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Valeo Vision Belgique SA
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    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60Q—ARRANGEMENT OF SIGNALLING OR LIGHTING DEVICES, THE MOUNTING OR SUPPORTING THEREOF OR CIRCUITS THEREFOR, FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60Q1/00—Arrangement of optical signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor
    • B60Q1/0011—Arrangement of optical signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor with light guides for distributing the light between several lighting or signalling devices
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60Q—ARRANGEMENT OF SIGNALLING OR LIGHTING DEVICES, THE MOUNTING OR SUPPORTING THEREOF OR CIRCUITS THEREFOR, FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60Q1/00—Arrangement of optical signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor
    • B60Q1/0029—Spatial arrangement
    • B60Q1/0041—Spatial arrangement of several lamps in relation to each other
    • B60Q1/0047—Signalling unit mounted on a headlamp unit
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60Q—ARRANGEMENT OF SIGNALLING OR LIGHTING DEVICES, THE MOUNTING OR SUPPORTING THEREOF OR CIRCUITS THEREFOR, FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60Q1/00—Arrangement of optical signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor
    • B60Q1/02—Arrangement of optical signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor the devices being primarily intended to illuminate the way ahead or to illuminate other areas of way or environments
    • B60Q1/04—Arrangement of optical signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor the devices being primarily intended to illuminate the way ahead or to illuminate other areas of way or environments the devices being headlights
    • B60Q1/18—Arrangement of optical signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor the devices being primarily intended to illuminate the way ahead or to illuminate other areas of way or environments the devices being headlights being additional front lights
    • B60Q1/20—Fog lights
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60Q—ARRANGEMENT OF SIGNALLING OR LIGHTING DEVICES, THE MOUNTING OR SUPPORTING THEREOF OR CIRCUITS THEREFOR, FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60Q1/00—Arrangement of optical signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor
    • B60Q1/26—Arrangement of optical signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor the devices being primarily intended to indicate the vehicle, or parts thereof, or to give signals, to other traffic
    • B60Q1/34—Arrangement of optical signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor the devices being primarily intended to indicate the vehicle, or parts thereof, or to give signals, to other traffic for indicating change of drive direction
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F21—LIGHTING
    • F21S—NON-PORTABLE LIGHTING DEVICES; SYSTEMS THEREOF; VEHICLE LIGHTING DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLE EXTERIORS
    • F21S41/00—Illuminating devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. headlamps
    • F21S41/10—Illuminating devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. headlamps characterised by the light source
    • F21S41/14—Illuminating devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. headlamps characterised by the light source characterised by the type of light source
    • F21S41/141—Light emitting diodes [LED]
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F21—LIGHTING
    • F21S—NON-PORTABLE LIGHTING DEVICES; SYSTEMS THEREOF; VEHICLE LIGHTING DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLE EXTERIORS
    • F21S41/00—Illuminating devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. headlamps
    • F21S41/20—Illuminating devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. headlamps characterised by refractors, transparent cover plates, light guides or filters
    • F21S41/24—Light guides
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F21—LIGHTING
    • F21S—NON-PORTABLE LIGHTING DEVICES; SYSTEMS THEREOF; VEHICLE LIGHTING DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLE EXTERIORS
    • F21S41/00—Illuminating devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. headlamps
    • F21S41/20—Illuminating devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. headlamps characterised by refractors, transparent cover plates, light guides or filters
    • F21S41/29—Attachment thereof
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F21—LIGHTING
    • F21S—NON-PORTABLE LIGHTING DEVICES; SYSTEMS THEREOF; VEHICLE LIGHTING DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLE EXTERIORS
    • F21S41/00—Illuminating devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. headlamps
    • F21S41/40—Illuminating devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. headlamps characterised by screens, non-reflecting members, light-shielding members or fixed shades
    • F21S41/43—Illuminating devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. headlamps characterised by screens, non-reflecting members, light-shielding members or fixed shades characterised by the shape thereof
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F21—LIGHTING
    • F21S—NON-PORTABLE LIGHTING DEVICES; SYSTEMS THEREOF; VEHICLE LIGHTING DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLE EXTERIORS
    • F21S41/00—Illuminating devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. headlamps
    • F21S41/60—Illuminating devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. headlamps characterised by a variable light distribution
    • F21S41/63—Illuminating devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. headlamps characterised by a variable light distribution by acting on refractors, filters or transparent cover plates
    • F21S41/635—Illuminating devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. headlamps characterised by a variable light distribution by acting on refractors, filters or transparent cover plates by moving refractors, filters or transparent cover plates
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F21—LIGHTING
    • F21S—NON-PORTABLE LIGHTING DEVICES; SYSTEMS THEREOF; VEHICLE LIGHTING DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLE EXTERIORS
    • F21S43/00—Signalling devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. brake lamps, direction indicator lights or reversing lights
    • F21S43/10—Signalling devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. brake lamps, direction indicator lights or reversing lights characterised by the light source
    • F21S43/13—Signalling devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. brake lamps, direction indicator lights or reversing lights characterised by the light source characterised by the type of light source
    • F21S43/14—Light emitting diodes [LED]
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F21—LIGHTING
    • F21S—NON-PORTABLE LIGHTING DEVICES; SYSTEMS THEREOF; VEHICLE LIGHTING DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLE EXTERIORS
    • F21S43/00—Signalling devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. brake lamps, direction indicator lights or reversing lights
    • F21S43/20—Signalling devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. brake lamps, direction indicator lights or reversing lights characterised by refractors, transparent cover plates, light guides or filters
    • F21S43/235—Light guides
    • F21S43/236—Light guides characterised by the shape of the light guide
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F21—LIGHTING
    • F21S—NON-PORTABLE LIGHTING DEVICES; SYSTEMS THEREOF; VEHICLE LIGHTING DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLE EXTERIORS
    • F21S43/00—Signalling devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. brake lamps, direction indicator lights or reversing lights
    • F21S43/20—Signalling devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. brake lamps, direction indicator lights or reversing lights characterised by refractors, transparent cover plates, light guides or filters
    • F21S43/235—Light guides
    • F21S43/236—Light guides characterised by the shape of the light guide
    • F21S43/237—Light guides characterised by the shape of the light guide rod-shaped
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F21—LIGHTING
    • F21S—NON-PORTABLE LIGHTING DEVICES; SYSTEMS THEREOF; VEHICLE LIGHTING DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLE EXTERIORS
    • F21S43/00—Signalling devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. brake lamps, direction indicator lights or reversing lights
    • F21S43/20—Signalling devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. brake lamps, direction indicator lights or reversing lights characterised by refractors, transparent cover plates, light guides or filters
    • F21S43/235—Light guides
    • F21S43/242—Light guides characterised by the emission area
    • F21S43/245—Light guides characterised by the emission area emitting light from one or more of its major surfaces
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F21—LIGHTING
    • F21S—NON-PORTABLE LIGHTING DEVICES; SYSTEMS THEREOF; VEHICLE LIGHTING DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLE EXTERIORS
    • F21S43/00—Signalling devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. brake lamps, direction indicator lights or reversing lights
    • F21S43/20—Signalling devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. brake lamps, direction indicator lights or reversing lights characterised by refractors, transparent cover plates, light guides or filters
    • F21S43/235—Light guides
    • F21S43/247—Light guides with a single light source being coupled into the light guide
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F21—LIGHTING
    • F21S—NON-PORTABLE LIGHTING DEVICES; SYSTEMS THEREOF; VEHICLE LIGHTING DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLE EXTERIORS
    • F21S43/00—Signalling devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. brake lamps, direction indicator lights or reversing lights
    • F21S43/20—Signalling devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. brake lamps, direction indicator lights or reversing lights characterised by refractors, transparent cover plates, light guides or filters
    • F21S43/26—Refractors, transparent cover plates, light guides or filters not provided in groups F21S43/235 - F21S43/255
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F21—LIGHTING
    • F21S—NON-PORTABLE LIGHTING DEVICES; SYSTEMS THEREOF; VEHICLE LIGHTING DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLE EXTERIORS
    • F21S43/00—Signalling devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. brake lamps, direction indicator lights or reversing lights
    • F21S43/20—Signalling devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. brake lamps, direction indicator lights or reversing lights characterised by refractors, transparent cover plates, light guides or filters
    • F21S43/27—Attachment thereof
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60Q—ARRANGEMENT OF SIGNALLING OR LIGHTING DEVICES, THE MOUNTING OR SUPPORTING THEREOF OR CIRCUITS THEREFOR, FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60Q2400/00—Special features or arrangements of exterior signal lamps for vehicles
    • B60Q2400/30—Daytime running lights [DRL], e.g. circuits or arrangements therefor
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F21—LIGHTING
    • F21Y—INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES F21K, F21L, F21S and F21V, RELATING TO THE FORM OR THE KIND OF THE LIGHT SOURCES OR OF THE COLOUR OF THE LIGHT EMITTED
    • F21Y2115/00—Light-generating elements of semiconductor light sources
    • F21Y2115/10—Light-emitting diodes [LED]

Definitions

  • the present invention notably relates to a lighting and/or signaling system.
  • a preferred application relates to the motor vehicle industry, for the equipment of vehicles, in particular for the production of devices likely to be able to emit several light beams, also called lighting functions, generally complying with regulations.
  • the invention can notably allow the production of a fog beam in combination with a so-called style function of much lower intensity.
  • Lighting and signaling devices known up to the present time are provided for emitting for example:
  • This device is complex because it imposes a very particular design of the headlamp for the attachment of the waveguide and for the reflection of the light towards the latter. This makes it poorly adaptable to the shapes and functions of headlamps. Moreover, despite a complex reflection cavity and waveguide input, the light retrieved by the latter remains very weak.
  • the invention makes it possible to solve all or some of the disadvantages of the present day techniques.
  • a lighting and/or signaling system for motor vehicles comprising a light source, a lens configured for receiving light rays coming directly or indirectly from the source through an input surface and for emitting a first output beam providing a first, preferably regulatory, lighting and/or signaling function through an output surface, and a waveguide configured for directly or indirectly receiving light rays coming from the source through an input surface and for emitting a second output beam through an output surface.
  • this system is such that a coupling zone of the waveguide is located at least partially and possibly totally opposite a portion of either the input surface of the lens or the output surface of the lens.
  • the invention can thus be used in various types of headlamp without the impact of the addition of a waveguide for a secondary function making the design modification too complex.
  • a waveguide for a secondary function making the design modification too complex.
  • the function provided by the waveguide does not hinder main fog beam function.
  • the coupling zone is an zone of the waveguide arranged for coupling light rays into the guide, that is to say for deflecting light rays reaching this zone into the guide in such a way that these light rays propagate inside the guide by total internal reflection.
  • the coupling zone extends from an input surface of the guide and preferably comprises, downstream of that input surface, a zone of collimation and/or of concentration of the input rays, so as to feed the waveguide with light.
  • the second beam makes it possible to carry out a second, preferably regulatory, lighting and/or signaling function.
  • the second regulatory lighting and/or signaling function is separate from the first regulatory lighting and/or signaling function.
  • the second beam does not have a regulatory lighting and/or signaling function.
  • the lens and the waveguide are mounted on a body.
  • the latter can be mounted such that it is mobile in rotation in said system, for example in order to allow the assembly formed by the guide and the lens to follow a movement, according to at least one pivoting direction.
  • the lens can itself be mounted such that it is mobile in rotation on the body.
  • the waveguide is mounted such that it is mobile in rotation on the body.
  • the coupling zone of the waveguide is formed by at least a portion of the input surface of the waveguide.
  • the coupling zone of the waveguide is possibly formed by at least an elbow bend portion of the waveguide.
  • the input surface of the waveguide is located at the mouth of a part of the coupling zone provided with a portion having a decreasing cross-section from the input surface to an elongated body upon which the output surface of the waveguide is located.
  • This form of waveguide input makes it possible to capture a large quantity of the light coming from the source without however necessarily having recourse to complex means such as light ray deflections.
  • the input surface of the waveguide exhibits a concave curvature in a plane comprising the mean direction of emission of the source and the axis of rotation of the relative mobility of the lens and the waveguide.
  • This curvature can make it possible to follow the contour of the cooperating surface of the lens as closely as possible and/or not to interfere with the rotational travel of the lens. This optimizes moreover the quantity of light gathered by the waveguide.
  • the input surface of the waveguide comprises at least one cavity.
  • the input surface of the waveguide comprises at least two cavities and, preferably, the cavities will then be disposed on either side of the center of the input surface of the waveguide.
  • each cavity has a substantially hemispherical shape.
  • the presence of one or more cavities on the input surface of the waveguide makes it possible to diffuse the light at the input of the waveguide and therefore to homogenize the light within the waveguide.
  • At least one intermediate shield obturates a portion of the output surface of the waveguide. This or these shields make it possible either to limit or eliminate overlapping between the first and second beams or to create style effects by generating discontinuities in the emission of light along the waveguide.
  • the invention also relates to a vehicle equipped with at least one device such as described above.
  • the device can be integrated in a headlamp.
  • FIG. 1 shows a cross-section of a first embodiment of the invention
  • FIG. 2 shows a front view illustration of it
  • FIG. 3 shows cross-section of another embodiment of the invention similar to that of FIG. 1 ;
  • FIG. 4 shows a front view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 3 ;
  • FIG. 5 shows a cross-sectional perspective view of an example of a mouth portion that the waveguide can have
  • FIG. 6 shows an example of installation of the light emitting assembly in a headlamp body, in a cross-sectional perspective view
  • FIG. 7 shows another embodiment of the invention in a cross-section similar to that of FIG. 1 .
  • the present invention can use a light source of the light emitting diode, also commonly called LED, type.
  • this LED can be provided with at least one chip able to emit light whose intensity is advantageously adjusted according to the lighting and/or signaling function to be carried out.
  • the term “light source” is understood here to be an assembly of at least one elementary source such as an LED able to produce a flow of light resulting in generating at the output of the device of the invention at least one output flow of light satisfying at least one desired function.
  • the source is generally associated with a support, connection means and heat dissipation means.
  • the source is configured for emitting in a mean emission direction which is perpendicular the plane of the chip of the LED if this source technique is used.
  • vertical and horizontal are used in the present description to denote directions according to an orientation perpendicular to the plane of the horizon for the term “vertical” and according to an orientation parallel with the plane of the horizon for the term “horizontal”. They are to be considered in the operating conditions of the device in a vehicle. The use of these words does not signify that slight variations about the vertical and horizontal directions are excluded from the invention. For example, an inclination relative to these directions of the order of + or ⁇ 10° is here considered as a minor variation about the two preferred directions.
  • low or low part is generally understood to be a part of an element of the invention located, in a vertical plane, below the optical axis.
  • high or high part is understood to be a part of an element of the invention located, in a vertical plane, above the optical axis.
  • parallel or the notion of merged axes or lines is here understood to be, notably with manufacturing or assembly tolerances, substantially parallel directions or substantially merged axes in this context.
  • the elements of the system form all or part of at least two beams carrying out two lighting and/or signaling functions.
  • This does not exclude other means, notably optical, from being interposed between said elements and a terminal projection zone on the optical path of the rays coming from the elements.
  • the lighting functions can obey regulatory requirements, for example the standard ECE regulation R87: Daytime Running Lamp or other European standards or standards of other countries or regions.
  • the style functions do not normally obey standards considering that they do not usually have a lighting and/or signaling function but are solely of aesthetic interest.
  • input surface or output face or output surface are understood to be surfaces of components defining, with a surrounding medium, diopters for the propagation light waves. It is therefore a matter of optically useful surfaces, that is to say at the level of which light rays pass through. These surfaces can be surrounded by optically inactive surfaces, for example a lens mount.
  • the expression according to which the input surface 31 of the waveguide 3 consists of a surface located opposite a portion of one from among the input surface 21 of the lens 2 and the output surface of the lens 2 implies that the input surface 31 of the waveguide 3 partly occults the first beam passing through the lens 2 (or occupies a space where the rays from the source 1 participate in the first beam in the absence of the input surface 31 of the waveguide 3 ).
  • the system of the invention can also be used for producing other lighting functions apart from the first and second beams described in detail below.
  • the first beam 5 typically corresponds to the emission of a light beam having a fog beam function.
  • the second beam 6 corresponds in turn to a style function, that is to say a light emission distributed over an output surface of a waveguide having an elongated portion so as to produce a light emission generally of low amplitude and making it possible to emphasize the shape of a part of the headlamp, generally for aesthetic purposes.
  • a light source 1 which can be of the type previously described and notably formed by a light emitting diode, is positioned upstream of an optical system for generating the first beam 5 .
  • this optical system comprises a lens 2 notably of the plano-convex type.
  • the input surface 21 receives the light rays emitted by the source 1 ; it is planar here.
  • An output diopter is formed at the level of the output surface 22 of the lens 2 which has for example a convex shape.
  • the output beam 5 thus constituted is of the divergent type. It is understood that the invention does not exclude supplementary optical means from being present, either between the source 1 and the lens 2 , or downstream from the lens 2 . For example, reflection means could be present along the propagation path of the light rays.
  • the emission of the first beam 5 can have adjustable inclination, in particular in the vertical direction.
  • the lens 2 cooperates with a pivoting axis 23 materialized by lateral mounts 24 , 25 in the form of circular protuberances each forming a bearing allowing the pivoting of the lens 2 about the axis 23 .
  • means of transmission of rotational movement are provided with drive lugs 26 , 27 organized in pairs at the level of each of the lateral mounts 24 , 25 .
  • each pair of drive lugs 26 , 27 can cooperate with a movement transmission system for example using a worm gear between the lugs of a pair 26 , 27 .
  • These mount and drive parts of the lens 2 do not form part of the active optical system and notably of the input surface 21 and of the output surface 22 of the lens 2 . These parts are generally peripheral with respect to the lens 2 .
  • the present invention produces the emission of a second beam 6 .
  • the latter is produced by means of a waveguide 3 having, in the case of FIG. 1 , an input surface 31 through which the light rays can be admitted, and an elongated body 32 at the level of which an output surface 33 produces the emission of the second beam 6 .
  • both the first and second beams 5 , 6 emit towards the front of the vehicle substantially in the same direction.
  • the waveguide 3 is configured for producing a light emission over a portion of space having a cross-section narrower than that of the first beam 5 .
  • the waveguide 3 produces an emission distributed along its length in such a way as to emit light along the waveguide 3 , from an end placed closed to the input surface 31 up to a distal end.
  • the waveguide extends in a longitudinal direction in a plane containing the mean direction of emission 11 of the light source 1 and intersecting the lens 2 transversely.
  • the elongated body 32 of the waveguide 3 extends from the input surface 31 to a part farther towards the inside 7 the vehicle than towards the outside 8 of the vehicle.
  • the emission produced by the waveguide 3 is distributed in a direction going towards the center of the front face (or of the rear face) of the vehicle.
  • the input surface 31 of the waveguide 3 is configured for capturing a portion of the light rays normally intended to participate in the first beam 5 .
  • the input surface 31 is located downstream of the output surface 22 of the lens 2 so as to capture a portion of the rays of the first beam 5 and to introduce it into the waveguide 3 .
  • the input surface 31 is therefore located in such a way as to interfere with the path of certain light rays normally intended for the first beam 5 .
  • the input surface 31 is located opposite the output surface 22 of the lens 2 .
  • the input surface 31 comprises a curvature, concave in this case, adapted to the curvature of the output surface 22 of the lens 2 . It can be seen immediately that these two portions of surface cooperate by being similar in their curvature, or even totally identical.
  • the waveguide 3 can comprise a portion 34 forming a flaring from the elongated body 32 at the level of which the output of the light rays towards the input surface 31 occurs.
  • This flared portion 34 has a cross-section which decreases progressively from the input surface 31 to the elongated body 32 . The latter is moreover not necessarily of constant cross-section in its longitudinal direction.
  • the funnel shape of the portion 34 makes it possible to progressively concentrate the light rays introduced through the input surface 31 .
  • the input surface 31 has the previously indicated curvature in a first direction of cross-section corresponding to that of FIG. 1 and has a substantially straight cross-section in cross-section plane perpendicular to the previous one. It will be noted that the input surface 31 is advantageously configured and situated with respect to the lens 2 so as not to interfere with the rotational mobility of the lens 2 .
  • shields parts of which can be seen at the references 4 a , 4 b and 4 c in FIG. 1 and in FIG. 2 .
  • these portions of shield 4 a , 4 b , 4 c can be carried by a single element, for example made of plastic, for example of dark color and possibly black, producing opacity to light.
  • An example of the plastic part forming the shields 4 a , 4 b , 4 c can be seen in the front view shown in FIG. 2 .
  • the portion of shield 4 b makes it possible to form a visual discontinuity between the output surface 22 of the lens 2 and the output surface 33 of the waveguide 3 .
  • the parts of shield 4 a , 4 c make it possible, if they are present, to delimit the contour of the output surfaces 22 and 33 .
  • FIGS. 3 and 4 A variant of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 respectively, in which the absence of the shield 4 b is observed so much so that, in front view, the output surfaces 22 and 33 respectively of the lens 2 and of the waveguide 3 , follow one another continuously for an observer placed in front of the headlamp.
  • the system described here associating a lens 2 and a waveguide 3 in a specific way can be integrated in a headlamp body 9 a contour shape of which can be seen for example in FIGS. 2 and 4 with a façade 91 and of which a perspective and cross-sectional view is given in FIG. 6 .
  • a chassis 92 of the body 9 is shaped in such a way as to define an internal space for receiving the system of the invention, and in particular the lens 2 , the source 1 , the waveguide 3 and possible shields 4 a , 4 b and 4 c .
  • These, as indicated previously, are shaped in one and the same piece in the form of a sheet advantageously made of plastic.
  • the façade 91 of the body 9 advantageously presents a window made of transparent or translucent material allowing the output of the first and second beams 5 , 6 .
  • FIG. 7 shows another embodiment of the invention constituting a variant with respect to the cases of the preceding figures, in particular in the relative positioning of the lens 2 and of the waveguide 3 .
  • the waveguide 3 is positioned in such a way that its input surface 31 is located upstream of the lens 2 with respect to the path of the light rays from the source 1 .
  • the input surface 31 interferes in such a way that a portion of the light rays normally having to reach the input surface 21 of the lens 2 , enters into the waveguide 3 .
  • the latter is therefore placed such that it partially masks the input surface 21 .
  • the waveguide 3 can for example extend from the input surface 31 towards the rear of the headlamp whilst it preferably extends towards the front of the headlamp in the embodiments shown in FIGS. 1 à 4 .
  • the embodiment shown in FIG. 7 can exhibit all or some of the features described previously for the other embodiments, in particular with the presence of shields 4 a , 4 b , 4 c .
  • the lens 2 can also be of the plano-convex type.
  • the waveguide it is advantageous for the waveguide to be independent of the mobility of the lens 2 , so as not to modify the positioning of the output surface 33 of the waveguide 3 even when the inclination of the lens 2 is modified.
  • the first and second beams 5 , 6 are independent. This independence does not however harm the efficiency of the system thus constructed because the input surface 31 of the waveguide 3 such as it is constituted allows the desired gathering of light by the waveguide 3 .
  • the two beams 5 , 6 are produced simultaneously.
  • the presence of the second beam 6 does not functionally hamper the first beam 7 which can notably be adjustable in inclination.
  • plastics of the polycarbonate or equivalent types for the different optical parts of the system and notably for the lens 2 and the waveguide 3 .
  • the size the input surface 31 will moreover be configured according to the quantity of light desired for the waveguide 3 .

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Microelectronics & Electronic Packaging (AREA)
  • Optics & Photonics (AREA)
  • Non-Portable Lighting Devices Or Systems Thereof (AREA)
US15/551,396 2015-02-17 2016-02-17 Lighting and/or signaling system for motor vehicles Expired - Fee Related US10676014B2 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
FR1551306 2015-02-17
FR1551306A FR3032663B1 (fr) 2015-02-17 2015-02-17 Systeme d’eclairage et/ou de signalisation pour vehicules automobiles
PCT/EP2016/053396 WO2016131891A1 (fr) 2015-02-17 2016-02-17 Système d'éclairage et/ou de signalisation pour véhicules automobiles

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US20180065536A1 US20180065536A1 (en) 2018-03-08
US10676014B2 true US10676014B2 (en) 2020-06-09

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EP (1) EP3271211B1 (fr)
CN (1) CN108633298B (fr)
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DE102005050420A1 (de) 2005-10-19 2007-04-26 Daimlerchrysler Ag Scheinwerfer für ein Kraftfahrzeug
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CN108633298B (zh) 2022-01-28
CN108633298A (zh) 2018-10-09
EP3271211B1 (fr) 2020-07-15
WO2016131891A1 (fr) 2016-08-25
FR3032663B1 (fr) 2018-11-09
EP3271211A1 (fr) 2018-01-24
FR3032663A1 (fr) 2016-08-19
US20180065536A1 (en) 2018-03-08

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